Conference on Stem Cells: Origins, Fate and Functions

描述（由申请人提供）：多能干细胞产生所有 一个有机体的细胞。所有的多细胞生物都来源于干细胞。 干细胞存在于成年物种的大多数器官中并产生后代 在生活中。最原始的干细胞的起源和性质仍然存在 尽管人口研究证实了它们的存在，但它们却难以捉摸。内在和 调节细胞命运决定的外在因素目前仅 正在详细研究中。干细胞的应用前景广阔， 组织修复和疾病，但基本的知识的潜在机制， 缺乏增殖、迁移和分化。通过比较 从不同物种获得的知识，共同的原则可能会 出现。通过描述干细胞的相似性， 从不同的年龄和不同的组织，一个趋同的概念框架， 将为今后的研究提供一致性和指导。评价 目前干细胞在诊断和治疗中的应用应该提供一个 衡量已经取得的进展和需要取得的进展。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Pluripotent stem cells give rise to all cells of an organism. All multicellular organisms are derived from stem cells. Stem cells exist in most organs of adult species and give rise to progeny throughout life. The origin and nature of the most primitive stem cells remain elusive, though population studies confirm their existence. The intrinsic and extrinsic factors that regulate cell fate determination are only presently being studied in detail. There is great promise for the use of stem cells in tissue repair and disease, but basic knowledge of underlying mechanisms of proliferation, migration, and differentiation are lacking. By comparing the knowledge acquired from different species, common principles will likely emerge. By delineating the similarities in the properties of stem cells derived from different ages and different tissue, a convergent conceptual framework will provide coherence and guidance for future studies. Evaluation of the current application of stem cells for diagnosis and therapy should provide a measure of how much progress has been made and is needed.